| ISABGOL or Plantago ovata | | | | Uses as home remedy: |
| | | | 1. In diarrhea and dysentery, it should be taken in the |
| | | | dose of 5 gm after roasted with Ghee and sugar. |
| Sanskrit | | | | 2. In constipation it should be taken in the dose of 5 gm |
| : | | | | along with water. |
| Sat isabgola, Isabgola | | | | 3. Its Ubatana provides softness and luster to the skin. |
| English | | | | Summary: |
| : | | | | A natural remedy for constipation, regulates bowel |
| Spaghula seed (husk) | | | | functions by stimulating nutritional program of digestive |
| Latin name | | | | system. It contents natural fibers which are part of |
| : | | | | healthy regimen and has ability to decrease symptoms |
| Plantago ovata | | | | of fatigue loss of energy and other severe health |
| Family | | | | problems. It helps to reduce risk of heart attack by |
| : | | | | decreasing serum cholesterol through proper excretion |
| Plantaginaceae | | | | of bile acids. Also helps in eliminating accumulated |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacodynamic properties | | | | toxic, chemicals and excessive waste products from |
| Rasa | | | | the body. |
| : | | | | Psyllium husk is derived from the seed of the Plantago |
| Madhur (sweet) | | | | ovata plant. Besides Plantago ovata, psyllium is also |
| Guna | | | | known as Ispaghula and Isapgol. Plantago ovata is an |
| : | | | | annual herb native to Asia, the Mediterranean region, |
| Guru (heavy), Snigdha (oily), Pichchila (sticky) | | | | and North Africa. Psyllium grows in sandy and silty |
| Virya | | | | soils. Psyllium has a long history of use throughout the |
| : | | | | world. Psyllium has been used in traditional medicine in |
| Shita (cold) | | | | the US, Europe, India, and China. Some of the uses of |
| Vipaka | | | | psyllium in traditional medicine are as laxative, emollient, |
| : | | | | demulcent, and diuretic. |
| Madhur (sweet) | | | | In a comparative study of the effects of codeine |
| Doshakarma | | | | phosphate, diphenoxylate (as Lomotil) and isapghul (as |
| : | | | | Isogel), ingested between meals, on ileostomy output in |
| Vata-pittashamak (alleviate V and P Dosha) | | | | 18 patients, Isogel produced the most viscid output. |
| Useful parts | | | | Isapghul (as Psyllium) has also been compared with |
| : | | | | methylcellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as |
| Seed and seedcoat | | | | a hydrophilic laxative and was found to be superior. |
| Medicinal uses | | | | The effects of bran, isapghul and lactulose were also |
| : | | | | observed in 31 patients with diverticular disease. |
| It has urinogenesis, expectorant, antipyretic, | | | | Isapghul had a significant effect on the stool weight |
| antidiarrhoeal, and antidysentric properties. It is used in | | | | and increased basal motility, though all three test |
| diarrhea, constipation, dysentery, fever, burningn | | | | substances had a laxative effect. In ayurveda the |
| sensation, cough, dysurea. | | | | mucilaginous seeds are used as laxative, demulcent |
| Dose | | | | and astringent, particularly in chronic colitis. In modern |
| : | | | | medicine, the plant is used as a mild bulk laxative. It has |
| Churna (powder) 3-5 gms. | | | | also been used in urinary infections as an ancillary |
| Important formulations | | | | treatment. No untoward effects have been reported in |
| : | | | | the use of Isapghul in thousands of patients taking it for |
| Pravahikantaka Churna | | | | many years. |